There is much that divides us. But in Annapolis, we agree: Go Navy. Beat Army.

There is much not to like about this year’s Army-Navy game.

The 121st service academy match-up being played during the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

Instead of neutral Philadelphia, the game will be played at Michie Stadium, a home-field advantage for the Black Knights of Army.

The Navy Midshipmen have been beaten up pretty badly this season as the team searches for a reliable quarterback. Even if the game can always surprise, Army is a touchdown favorite.

President Donald Trump will be the only “fan” in the stadium. Restrictions in place to prevent the spread of the virus will make it a television only event for all but the Brigade of Midshipmen, the Corps of Cadets and assorted essential personnel.

Navy and Army athletics will lose millions in anticipated revenue that helps pay for all academy sports.

There was plenty of grumbling among midshipmen and alumni about keeping the mids on the Yard for Thanksgiving, a step that kept the mids from bringing back COVID-19 to the Yard but also made it easier to plan a safe trip to New York thisweekend.

Having said all that — and it is quite a bit — the classic Army-Navy game is a national treasure, perhaps more so this year than in decades.

We think itwas the right decision to go ahead with this game, carefully.

College athletics, particularly football, is amulti-million dollar business. Yet only a handful of games every year actually mean something besides ticket sales, television programming and grist for sports betting.

Call us cynical, but the historic series between the Midshipmen ofNavy and the Knights of Army is one of the few examples of why college football can still matter.

Students at these two institutions are not on that field to pursue dreams of football glory as a profession, although a few get the chance to do that before eventually fulfilling their service obligation. They put on the midshipman’s or cadet’s uniform to serve their country. The football uniform is secondary.

And ina year when everything has been either been disrupted by the coronavirus or politicized by supporters ofTrumpand President-elect Joe Biden, the importance of a commitment to an ideal is somethingwe as a nation should all agree on. Period.

So whatever you’re doing on Saturday, take time towatch the game on CBS. Find a few moments to explore the history of the game and the meaning of this year’s contest at capitalgazette.com.

Take the time to think about what the young men andwomen on the field and in the stands represent.

We remain mired in a moment of national peril because of the virus’s spread. Many of us are not sure if our jobs will be herewhenthe vaccines arrive next year, or whether all of our loved ones will survive until then.

Even though a rancorous division still rules this land, there is one thing most of us in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County can agree on:

GoNavy. Beat Army.